∎ [PDF] A Darker Shade of Magic eBook VE Schwab

A Darker Shade of Magic eBook VE Schwab

Download As PDF : A Darker Shade of Magic eBook VE Schwab

A Darker Shade of Magic eBook VE Schwab

When my sports-obsessed husband gets super excited about a game he’s watching he yells out, “Instant classic!” Well, that is exactly how I felt after only a few chapters of A Darker Shade of Magic. INSTANT CLASSIC. ADSoM has all the makings of a classic fantasy story – a detailed setting (that you want to get lost in, yes, even if it’s impossibly dangerous), a fast-paced plot (I may have wished that my kids could walk to and from school on their own just so I could keep reading) and characters that you wish you could meet in person.

The setting is unbelievable. Four, separate Londons. I KNOW. Four of one of my favorite cities. And all four Londons are linked by magic. They are also linked by Travelers, people who can use magic to transport themselves between the different cities. Kell is our main protagonist and he’s also one of these rare Travelers. Kell’s main job is to deliver messages from the kings and queens of the different Londons. Can you imagine my excitement as the political intrigue and betrayals begin to build?

But, Victoria doesn’t leave it at that level of simple, fantasy plot. No, she introduces more characters (don’t worry if you’re like me and have trouble keeping track of a larger cast of characters, you won't have that issue here) and she efficiently tells you their story before using them to further the impossibly fast-moving plot.

Oh you guys, I looooooooved Kell and just wait until you meet Lila. She is the perfect live-for-adventure heroine. The two of them grow to depend on one another and their chemistry and quick wits made me want to ship them forever. And then there’s the prince of Red London, Rhy. Those three, Kell, Lila and Rhy, have my heart.

Now I’m going to leave you to discover the villains for yourself. They are complex, motivated and yes, my hatred for them was deeeeeeep. In other words, they are the very best kind of villains. You get them and you still hate them.

Don’t wait to pick up your copy of ADSoM and be sure to bump it up on your TBR pile. This is a classic fantasy tale that is just waiting to be picked up and read. Warning: symptoms after you finish reading will include – a pounding book hangover, a desire to test out your Traveler skills and an overwhelming urge to own a cool multi-layered and flippable coat. The only known treatment is the next installment of the story. For that, we will have to wait an entire year. I know, I know, it will feel like forever.

*Reviewed by Sophie for Mundie Moms


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A Darker Shade of Magic eBook VE Schwab Reviews

This book had so much potential. There's a lot to like but it just didn't quite deliver.

PROS
- V.E. Schwab has a really nice writing style. It flows effortlessly and you can fly through the pages. Her descriptions paint a solid picture.
- The world building is well done. I liked the different Londons and their back stories were interesting. There were plenty of scenes I enjoyed quite a bit.
- The Blood Magic/Elemental powers are cool.

CONS
- The 2 main characters Kell & Lila are both very clichè and uninteresting. Lila was actually very annoying most of the time. She was being very immature at times despite the situation being very serious. She's made out to be a strong female character, which I like, but she always needs to be saved by Kell. Kell complains a lot for no reason. He's also not always honest when he should be.
- The Pacing was a little too slow for me at times. There weren't enough epic moments or tense situations to keep me very interested. Once I got more than half way through, I wanted it to just end.
- I felt like the Author was very close to blowing me away but she never really did. I don't want to continue the series.

I read Six of Crows right before this and that impressed me in every way that this book didn't.
"Death comes for everyone . . . I'm not afraid of dying. But I am afraid of dying here . . . I'd rather die on an adventure than live standing still."

"I'm not going to die," she said. "Not till I've seen . . . everything."

What do you get when you mix equal parts magic, inter-dimensional travel, strong female characters, and criminal activity, with a hint of romance? A Darker Shade of Magic, of course! I was drawn to this book because 1) it's been super popular among the Instagram reader community, and 2) there is not one, but four Londons (mega points for creativity, Schwab).

What did I like about this book? Well, the whole premise was highly original. Kell, the main character, can travel between 4 Londons—White London, Red London, Black London, and Grey London. Each London has a different relationship with magic, whether they embrace it, worship it, kill for it, or don't believe in it (not in that order). But Kell and one other character are the only ones able to travel between the Londons, which means they are messengers and ambassadors for the leaders (which leads to some interesting problems).

I also liked that the book wasn't all about romance—there was very little. Lila and Kell worked as a team. The book also dealt with brotherly relationships and caring for family, even if they are not your blood relatives. It also tackled the age-old question of "what do you do if you come into a lot of power, but it's an evil power," which naturally includes character motive investigation, willpower, and self discovery.

However, as with many hyped books, this one fell a little short of my expectations (hence, 3.5 stars). What went wrong? Let me share

1) Dialogue – I didn't feel like it flowed naturally and was a tad cliche.

2) The Strong/Independent Female Main Character Trope – Lila Bard is a cool character, but I'm just a little tired of the whole tough girl characters who don't need a man or anyone else and don't embrace their uniquely feminine strengths. Why does a girl have to act like a man to get attention in the literary community? Why can't she be feminine and strong? *steps off soapbox*

3) Character/plot originality – Although the premise was unique, much of it felt like other YA lit fantasy that I had read before and that was better executed (e.g., Leigh Bardugo's Six of Crows and the Grisha trilogy).

4) World building – I wanted more details. I can never have too much solid world building, and I think it's essential for fantasy to connect with the reader.

Overall, a fun read, but not quite a 4-star rating.
When my sports-obsessed husband gets super excited about a game he’s watching he yells out, “Instant classic!” Well, that is exactly how I felt after only a few chapters of A Darker Shade of Magic. INSTANT CLASSIC. ADSoM has all the makings of a classic fantasy story – a detailed setting (that you want to get lost in, yes, even if it’s impossibly dangerous), a fast-paced plot (I may have wished that my kids could walk to and from school on their own just so I could keep reading) and characters that you wish you could meet in person.

The setting is unbelievable. Four, separate Londons. I KNOW. Four of one of my favorite cities. And all four Londons are linked by magic. They are also linked by Travelers, people who can use magic to transport themselves between the different cities. Kell is our main protagonist and he’s also one of these rare Travelers. Kell’s main job is to deliver messages from the kings and queens of the different Londons. Can you imagine my excitement as the political intrigue and betrayals begin to build?

But, Victoria doesn’t leave it at that level of simple, fantasy plot. No, she introduces more characters (don’t worry if you’re like me and have trouble keeping track of a larger cast of characters, you won't have that issue here) and she efficiently tells you their story before using them to further the impossibly fast-moving plot.

Oh you guys, I looooooooved Kell and just wait until you meet Lila. She is the perfect live-for-adventure heroine. The two of them grow to depend on one another and their chemistry and quick wits made me want to ship them forever. And then there’s the prince of Red London, Rhy. Those three, Kell, Lila and Rhy, have my heart.

Now I’m going to leave you to discover the villains for yourself. They are complex, motivated and yes, my hatred for them was deeeeeeep. In other words, they are the very best kind of villains. You get them and you still hate them.

Don’t wait to pick up your copy of ADSoM and be sure to bump it up on your TBR pile. This is a classic fantasy tale that is just waiting to be picked up and read. Warning symptoms after you finish reading will include – a pounding book hangover, a desire to test out your Traveler skills and an overwhelming urge to own a cool multi-layered and flippable coat. The only known treatment is the next installment of the story. For that, we will have to wait an entire year. I know, I know, it will feel like forever.

*Reviewed by Sophie for Mundie Moms